Turkey hopeful on EU visa-free deal for citizens

The humanitarian program, the largest ever from the European Union, is part of a €3 billion package of assistance that the European Union promised Turkey to support some three million mainly Syrian refugees the country hosts.

All EU members must consent to EU entry talks with candidate countries.

On July 15 evening, Turkish authorities said a military coup attempt took place in the country.

He said the 348-million-euro-backed ($384 million) plan is aimed at “the most vulnerable” and was more dignified than offering food hand-outs and will also boost the economy of Turkish communities where the refugees live.

“The EU’s inability to prevent a country from blocking the opening of chapters is another show of the EU’s weakness in overcoming problems”, Cavusoglu said after talks with the EU’s foreign policy chief and enlargement commissioner.

He described the use of cash cards as a cost-effective game changer in the delivery of worldwide humanitarian aid and expected that it would be received positively at tomorrow’s High Level Political Dialogue meeting in Ankara between European Union and Turkey.

Austria has called for a suspension of membership negotiations, arguing that the country is not ready.

Two of the European Union’s top officials sought to smooth fractious relations with Turkey on Friday, vowing deeper trade ties and continued cooperation on migration, but there was no immediate end to a deadlock over visa-free travel for Turks.

Brad Blitz, migration expert and professor of global politics at Middlesex University in Britain, said sending large numbers of asylum-seekers back to Greece would apply an ever greater strain on the country’s asylum system and reception capacity.

“The timing is up to our Turkish colleagues, but it should be possible to find a solution”, Hahn said. Hahn spoke at a news conference after talks with Turkey’s Foreign Minister and European Affairs Minister Omer Celik that also included Federica Mogherini, who oversees foreign affairs for the European Commission.

A similar message was delivered by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who was also paying his first visit to Turkey since the attempted coup.

“A strong and democratic Turkey is essential for the stability and security of Europe and the region”, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation chief added.